Hazmat work opens up career options for Adam Sayre, agricultural economist

Agricultural economics undergraduate works behind the scenes to ensure quality work on gloveboxes used for hazardous materials.

August 3, 2012

Adam works closely with many aspects of project management and engineering, such as scheduling and procurement. His main role is to capture and track information and questions during the fabrication process. Subcontractors often come to the Lab with questions like what grease to use in a vacuum system, a clarification on a part number, or what to do about design flaws. Adam comments, “This is a great opportunity. You can find a group to apply work in your specific field. It’s a good preview of what a job would be like.”

"The Lab is great resource. You can find out what you want to do with your degree while working with world-class scientists, doing groundbreaking research in the best facilities."

Adam Sayre previews professional work experience

Adam Sayre, an undergraduate student, discovers his interests while working with the Project Engineering group. Project engineers are deployed to a variety of locations throughout the Laboratory to assist with engineering and engineering records projects. He works behind the scenes, ensuring the Plutonium Science and Manufacturing Directorate properly perform assigned tasks and functions.

Currently, Adam assists with two glovebox projects. Gloveboxes are large stainless steel containers workers use to handle hazardous materials. Two gloveboxes will replace gloveboxes used to decommission the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research (CMR) Facility. The other project is the Direct Current Arc Glovebox, which will uses a spectrometer to sample and verify plutonium fuel shipments from Russia.

Adam works closely with many aspects of project management and engineering, such as scheduling and procurement. His main role is to capture and track information and questions during the fabrication process. Subcontractors often come to the Lab with questions like what grease to use in a vacuum system, a clarification on a part number, or what to do about design flaws. Adam comments, “This is a great opportunity. You can find a group to apply work in your specific field. It’s a good preview of what a job would be like.”

Adam recently graduated from Los Alamos High School. This fall, Adam will be a freshman at New Mexico State University, studying agricultural economics. Adam participated in the Los Alamos High School marching band as the drum major, and will continue his interest in music as a member of the Pride of New Mexico Marching Band for New Mexico State.

Los Alamos has many opportunities for children of all ages to gain interest in the various fields of science, engineering and math. Growing up in Los Alamos, Adam remembers attending extra science programs taught by people working at the Laboratory, such as the children’s college and forensics at the local college, University of New Mexico – Los Alamos. the Lab supports and enhances education programs in the community.

Adam will continue to work as a student throughout his undergraduate studies. He has been encouraged to try different areas of interest within his field, such as financial planning, and may switch groups further into his studies. Although he hasn’t pinned down his specific career interests, his long-term goal is to work at the Lab. Adam states, “I read that 40% of employees are former students. That makes me hopeful to have a job at the Lab.”

The Lab is helping Adam learn what career field he is most interested in. He describes the Lab as “a great resource. You can find out what you want to do with your degree while working with world-class scientists, doing groundbreaking research in the best facilities.”

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